Having an HTML or mobile mirror site gives your customers the best of both worlds: the beauty of Flash on their computer, and the accessibility to view and navigate from mobile non-Flash compatible devices (e.g., iPad, iPhone, Android). No matter what device they access your site from your customer can explore your work, learn information about your company, and contact you with ease. In fact, our system does all the work, automatically recognizing what device someone is viewing your site from to determine which version to display.

HTML mirror site. An HTML mirror shows all the same pages and links as your Flash site, but in HTML format. This allows your site to be seen in its entirety from any non-Flash device. You even get to choose an HTML template and adjust the colors to compliment your Flash site. This is a great way to present continuity between your sites and provide the same experience to your customers, no matter what device they access you site from!

Mobile mirror. Having a mobile mirror is another way to provide easy access to your website from mobile devices. This format is presented with the feel of an “app”. You get a clear navigation menu, and your beautiful images can be easily seen.

These products are available for purchase through your Flash/HTML control panel under the “Extras” icon.  This is a great way to invest in the accessibility of your website!

The samples of this new template feature images by Tracy Allyn (Store Site sample) and Larry Perez (Blog Site sample). A special thanks to these amazing photographers and awesome PhotoBizzers for sharing their images!

Too BIG to just call them “Enhancements”

Our PhotoBiz development wizards have been hard at work and have truly revolutionized your control and level of customization for the Blog and Store Site banners and gallery pages.

The banners for Blog, Marquee (if banner layout is selected), and Marquee Plus pages have a completely new control interface that is very easy to use and understand. You can now choose if you want your slideshow to display in sequence or at random, select which controls appear with the slideshow, and customize the height of the banner (between 100 and 500 pixels). You can also select from five transition styles and set the speed or time (from one to ten seconds) that the image is still before the transition begins to further personalize the slideshow.

Pick Your Focal Point

Another radical new feature where the PhotoBiz developers really “raised the bar” is the Image Focal Point. Previously the banner image was always centered to fit the width of the site. Now by selecting Customize and Edit the Image Focal Point can be dragged to any point within the image. Once selecting the Focal Point you get to enjoy instant resizing and cropping!

Full Screen Gallery Viewing

Another subtle enhancement that can make a big impact on your presentation starts with the click of an icon in the lower right corner of the screen. That’s right, with just a click your customer can see the images in fullscreen for a spectacular display of your images.

Plus, PhotoBiz’s unique color shifting system has been added to the image control panel. After selecting the “Color” tab you can use the “eyedropper” to select any color within the image, and set it to display as your background when that particular photo is viewed in fullscreen.

Two New Gallery Layouts

In addition to these wonderful enhancements, the Store and Blog Site gallery pages now have two more layouts to choose from: Top Large Thumbs and Bottom Large Thumbs. The layouts allow you a better opportunity to “style” your gallery.

New slideshow controls, layouts, fullscreen viewing, and color shifting – all for you to create the most compelling presentation possible. We hope you enjoy all of these new features! As always, you can make a one-click switch to enjoy these new designs and layouts.

A Splash Intro is a great way to advise your customers about how to find different aspects of your company’s’ online presence, and the best part is it comes with a PhotoBiz Flash or HTML website. 

Here is what a Splash Intro page should do:

• Welcome your customers, without being a hindrance to get to your site
• Prominently feature your logo
• Have at least two links,
• Include your contact information such as.your company name, address, phone number, and email.
• Feature the same color scheme and background as your website

You can also use the Footer Text box to add HTML features, such as a Facebook “Like” box, a badge for your favorite organization, or deep links to improve SEO. Take advantage of the HTML ability of this box to add some pizzazz to your Splash Intro!

There are so many cool things you can do with a Splash Intro page, and this is only a hint at what was discussed in today’s webinar titled “Perfecting Your Splash Intro Page”.

And as always, the PhotoBiz Passionate Support® team is eager to help you make the Splash Page of your dreams! Feel free to call us here with any questions you have to help you utilize all portions of your Splash Intro so you can make the best first impression!

A longstanding personal and business practice of giving back is one of Sandy’s trademarks. This commitment to community inspired her to co-found the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation in 2005. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing in-hospital portraits to families suffering the loss of a newborn. Today the organization has over 12,000 photographers registered as members in over 40 countries. 

Sandy has served on the Board of Directors for the Professional Photographers of America, and holds the prestigious titles of Print Master and Explorer of Light from Canon USA. When she isn’t busy with a speaking engagement, a portrait session or overseeing her studio, Sandy is spending time with her four amazing children and her boxer Canon.

The Interview

1. Tell us something about your business and how long you have been a professional photographer?

I’ve been a full-time photographer for more than 20+ years. What started as a hobby at 17 years old, by 18 it soon became a career that has taken me from an at-home business to a thriving, high-end portrait studio with over 20 employees.

2. What equipment do you use?

I have always been a big fan of Canon products. I shoot with the Canon Mark II, but I am excited to go to the Mark III. Because I specialize in children’s work, my lens of choice is typically the 70-200mm 2.8. I also love my 50mm for environmental work and the 100mm macro for babies as well. 

3. Where are you located?

My studio is located in Littleton, Colorado. It’s a beautiful area to live and work, and though I love traveling and discovering new places, there’s no place like home. 

4. What type of photography do you like to create?

I enjoy photographing babies, children, seniors, and families. There are so many tender moments that can be captured during a traditional, posed session. I like bringing out the true emotions and personalities of my subjects. It’s one of the most rewarding things about what I do. I love the variety that each day brings. When I walk into the studio every morning, everything is new again. 

5. Price range of portraiture

Although we are busy, we are considered a boutique studio. Our goal is to create a high-end experience, and our prices reflect that. Our least expensive 8×10 starts at $150 and packages can range from $650-$7,000. 

6. When did you notice you had a passion for photography?

Almost from the moment I picked up a camera, I was hooked. I started my company as a passion and eventually built it onto my dream. I am still obsessed with learning. I read, watch, and try every new thing and I never stop growing. 

7. What is unique to what you do or what you offer?

I think every photographer has a unique gift and a unique way of photographing. My work is known for a subdued, tranquil mood and timeless sets and posing. I have always felt that photography is more about relationships than skill. I feel blessed that I have the gift of listening, and I feel I really hear what my clients want. Not just their words, but with their actions and expressions. 

8. Most awkward moment during an event?

Oh man, I could tell story after story of stupid things I have done. Once I sprayed mace in the air and sniffed it to see if it worked. IT DID! The last wedding I shot I stood up and my baggy pants stayed down. Don’t even get me started on the kid sessions. Once, I was pregnant and a kid sneezed on me leaving a bunch of yuck on my arm, which caused me to start throwing up because I was so sensitive. We laugh so hard at work it scares me sometimes. No job should be this fun! 

9. What is the scariest thing that ever happened during a shoot?

Oh, I shot a wedding once, in a gazebo right on the ocean in the keys. When they did the butterfly release, 10,000 seagulls that were on the roof flew in and attacked everyone. It would have been terrifying but we were laughing so hard we could not be scared. See, this can’t be real life. 

10. Best advice that you’ve been given in your photography career?

When I was a younger photographer, I had a mentor that taught me to look at my work not as pieces of paper, but as a piece of art that represents everything from my education, experience, equipment, and beyond. That advice meant the world to me then and it has changed my business immensely.

11. Best advice that you could give someone else that is pursuing a photography career?

BELIEVE. I have seen amazing things happen in my life from a positive attitude and little persistence. You only get one life. One chance to follow your dreams and really become what you dream. Nothing is easy, not for me, or anyone. Life is about sacrifice and choice and keeping those balanced. 

12. Best moment of your photography career?

I have had so many best moments, but seeing my youngest son following in my footsteps and shooting from the heart thrills me. He has such a natural eye, where I had to try so hard to learn and grow. You can check him out at www.facebook.com/NikolaiPucPhotography.

13. How many sessions/events do you do each year?

I personally hold about 400 family and individual sessions each year. I love teaching and sharing my knowledge, but it is also really nice to spend time with my clients. Many of them have become very dear friends over the years.

14. Have you changed anything to adjust in the current economic times?

Absolutely. I think many photographers have. Consumers are spending differently, and there are a lot of ways to combat this. Model search campaigns, lower session fees, and lower-cost social media campaigns have helped keep a steady flow of business in the last year or two. More than anything, planning ahead and knowing that lean times always come has helped me thrive even during this rough patch.

15. Describe your shooting style.

As a photographer, I try to get to know my subject. I interact with them throughout the session, and try to evoke natural smiles and other expressions through a casual conversation. This works on varied levels with children, teens, couples and families alike. I find if I am smiling, they will too. 

You can connect with Sandy through the following websites and social media sites:

Main Website: http://sandypuc.com/
Seniors Website: http://sandypucphotography.com/
Tours Website: http://sandypuctours.com
Forum: http://sandypucuniversity.com
Marketing Tools Website: http://www.ukandu.com/
Blog: http://sandypucblog.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sandypucfans
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/sandypuc
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SandyPuc

We are pleased to introduce an amazing line-up of speakers for the month of May! Take a look below at the scheduled FREE Webinars and sign up today.    

Three of the PhotoBiz team submitted artwork, and so I caught up with them to learn about the art they submitted and why they choose that piece.

The All Seeing Eye with Dish Washing Gloves

Ana S. is a member of the PhotoBiz Passionate Support Team. She is also a painter, and submitted a mixed media piece with acrylic, oil, and ink.

Description of piece: This painting is a small study from a series of paintings I was working on a few years ago. It deals with the childlike idea of dress up, fantasy, and pretend. As children we intuitively play in grand fantasy worlds of our own creating and will use any household item at our disposal to take on the persona of our make believe world. 

Why she choose this piece: I chose this piece because I feel it is a good representation of the kind of paintings that I make. I have a deep love and appreciation for the human figure and enjoy painting it. The Center for Visual Artists here in Greensboro is a fantastic organization that supports the local arts. This is actually the second year that I have participated in the 100 for 100 fundraiser and it was an easy decision to do it again. I love the idea of giving back to the art community and it is a great opportunity to get a little exposure for my artwork! 

Tiny Galaxy

Chelsea P.  is a member of the PhotoBiz Design and Research Team. She is also a photographer, and submitted an “iPhoneography” piece to the showcase

Description of piece: ‘Tiny Galaxy’ is a result of several experiments in iPhoneography. The image was originally a horizontal image of a sunset that was taken using an iPhone, and I then processed the image to create the 360-degree effect, and after that I further processed the image to add the vignetting and nebula to the image. The piece was created entirely using an iPhone, from image capture to processing.

Why she choose this piece: I selected this image to use in 100 for 100 because I wanted to use an image with an interesting subject, and a high degree of saturation and contrast and I wanted to print the image on Aluminum, and I felt that this would be a perfect image to really utilize the unique reflective characteristics of photographic printing on aluminum.

Ubiquitous

Mike B. is a PhotoBiz Passionate Support Team Lead. He is also a photographer and submitted a photo transferred onto canvas.

Description of piece: My piece was a photo transfer onto canvas, so it would appear a little more aged in person. I took it originally as part of a photo-a-day project where I used a word, and tried to photograph it. The word that day was ubiquitous.

Why he chose this piece: I chose this piece for the fundraiser show because the symbols used in the image are symbols most people deal with on a daily basis. I don’t like to dictate what my work is about, but instead use it to open discussion for other people, which I feel this work accomplishes.

Have a clear idea of what searches you want to rank on. When working on your SEO, it all starts with determining which keywords are most important. For example, what type of sessions generate the most income for you? Or where are you looking to expand your market? It is often easiest to break into a niche market, versus general keywords. No matter what keywords you choose, the key is providing pertinent information and useful links.

Search engines index both Flash and HTML sites. While search engines once skipped over Flash sites because they didn’t know how to read them, Google has specifically improved their algorithm to accommodate Flash designs in addition to HTML. In fact, PhotoBiz has specific SEO in place to help optimize both HTML and Flash sites such as allowing you to set meta data on most pages of your website – with the goal of giving Google an in-depth view of your content.

Focus on select keywords, not every conceivable word customers will use. Unfortunately putting too many keywords in your meta tagging can actually hurt your SEO results. “Keyword stuffing” is a black hat SEO technique that is frowned upon, and search engines can penalize for it. Instead of thinking of every possible keyword people use to find your site, focus on the most important ones. They are after all called “key”-words.

Differentiate between content keywords and meta keywords. When we discuss keywords we have to make a distinction between meta keywords and content keywords. Both types of keywords are important, but they have their own purpose.

• Meta Keywords: These words and phrases are found in the coding of your website, and are part of what search engines look at when indexing your site.
• Content Keywords: In the broadest sense this is every bit of text on your website. Search engines not only crawl the coding of your website, but also the text on pages in order to have a complete picture of the work you do.

Updating content versus adding content. Updating your content is making changes to your existing pages and meta data on your site. When you make a change to the content of your website Google will re-crawl your website to take this new information into account and adjust your ranking. Adding content refers to new pages or blog posts added to the site. In the case of new content being added, search engines focus on reviewing the additional content, without rechecking the older content. New content such as blog posts is seen as a good thing, and why having a blog on your site helps to improve your SEO.

Good SEO is not an overnight fix. One of the most frustrating parts of setting up or improving your SEO is the time it takes to see results. Google, Yahoo, and Bing all have their own unique schedule for reviewing websites that we aren’t privy to. You can decrease the amount of time that it takes for a search engine to review your site, by submitting your site map to places such as Google’s Webmaster Tools. Whether you actively submit your changes or wait for crawlers to find you, know that it can easily take 30 days for changes to be reflected. So each time you make changes, the clock starts over again.

Let PhotoBiz Help You. PhotoBiz undoubtedly has the industry’s best SEO tools paired with Passionate Support consultants available by phone. Give us a call at 866.463.7620 or submit a support ticket to have one of our SEO Experts to review your website today!

What is a FANF Fee?

While there are a number of changes to Visa’s fee structure, the one of greatest consequence to PhotoBiz customers is the Fixed Acquirer Network Fee (FANF). It applies if you have had at least one Visa charge in any given quarter. The new fee is in addition to all of the other fees like per transaction fees and percentage fees. The new fees will be calculated on a monthly basis. The first charges will appear on your May 2012 statements.

What Will I Be Charged?

The schedule of fees that apply to your business will depend on whether you accept most of your charges face to face or without the card present. Most PhotoBiz customers will fall under the “Card Not Present” schedule of payments below:

*Visa will waive the FANF for charitable organizations classified under merchant category code 8398.

Beware of any merchant that charges more than what Visa is charging it! To verify your monthly charge, you can use this online calculator. The Electronic Transactions Association has submitted a letter to Visa requesting a delay of the collection of the FANF, but Visa is still moving forward with the fee.

Why Is Visa Charging This Fee?

In a public statement, Visa reasons that, “Debit regulation has altered the competitive landscape. To enable Visa to compete in the new environment, we have revised our business strategy….” The “debit regulation” refers to the Durbin Amendment to the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In other words, Congress took away from Visa’s profits, so Visa created new fees to get them back.

Questions?

Although Visa has created the FANF, it is up to each credit card merchant how it will charge its customers. If you have any questions, please contact your credit card merchant representative.

Koke blew into our office in downtown Greensboro like a whirlwind of enthusiasm for a wonderful interview.

The Interview

1. Tell us something about your group?

We are all trendsetters that happened to run into each other. We started off with 6 members, and have narrowed down to 3. The stuff we say, the stuff we wear – bright colors, skinny jeans, snap back hats is all part of our act. We love to see how fast other people pick up our look. I’ve even got my own haircut, if you go to my barber and ask for Koke’s hairstyle he will give you something close to it.

The 90s Baybeesz is more than just dancing. I’m working on a retro clothing line and I have a group I go thrifting with.

[Editors Note: Thrifting is socially shopping at thrift and consignment shops.]

2. What type of performances do you like to create?

We dance and DJ music with original rap. We all love hitting stages and have a passion for the spotlight. Ned is the behind the scenes guy manning the camera. I’m not that guy. I perform. We count on Ned to be our techno-geek. Me and Swoo live for the stage.

3. Where do you perform?

At our school talent show, at the Thomasville Spring Fling, teen clubs, birthday parties, parades, WFMY morning show. We’ve even performed downtown at the Center Park just for fun.

WFMY was a big stepping stone for me. Once we were on the news I felt like I was getting somewhere and needed to keep pushing myself.  We had our video shown on Miss Rachel’s show on BET one morning.

We have more videos and music coming this summer. We should have a mix tape of original music coming out.

4. When did you notice you had a passion for dancing?

I had a passion for dancing ever since I was little. When a dance would come out, my mom would say, “hey Koke, try that.”

Around 5 or 6, I got a passion for the 90s. I was born in 95. I love watching movies like House Party, and shows like Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I can sing you almost every 90s song. My favorite is Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe, it is the epitome of the 90s.

Note: In the video above the 90s Baybeesz are performing in front of the graffiti wall in the PhotoBiz parking lot.

5. What is unique to what you and your group do?

We all come from different backgrounds, and meshed together easily. All our creativity and ideas come together and make it unique. We will come up with crazy stuff and just see if other people will do it.

A big part of what we do is creating our look. For example, I won’t take credit for shoestring belts, but once we started doing it other people did.

I asked my mom for some skinny jeans, and she said no. So I washed my grandfather’s car and he took me to the mall where I picked out my first pair of acid wash skinny jeans. My mom wasn’t happy, but eventually she got me some too.

6. Most awkward moment during a performance?

Most awkward moment was the GYC. We performed at one of the fairs. We had a routine where we dougied. I stepped out and started dougie-ing. We were supposed to take turns, but my teammates wouldn’t step up. I was shooting them laser beams from my eyes while they left me hanging to keep going by myself. I had to keep on smiling when I really wanted to chew the crew out.

[Editor’s Note: GYC is the Greensboro Youth Council. To Dougie is to dance like Doug E. Fresh.]

7. What is the scariest thing that ever happened during a performance?

Scariest is when we went down to Thomasville one time. Either the CD was scratched or the Flash drive wouldn’t work. We all panicked, and learned that we needed to all have the mix on our flash drives and bring two CDs. Gotta bump your head to learn sometimes.

8. Best advice that you’ve been given in your performing career?

Ok, I know this for sure. We did a birthday party at a hotel for one of my friends, AJ who is actually a singer. She is a military baby. Her uncle came in and asked us questions. We told him how hard things had been. He told us if this is something we love, you gotta keep doing it. If you bump your head 99 times, I bet you get it right 101 times. It was very powerful, genuine words. We were so hyped to go perform afterward. Everything he said to us, basically he just pushed us. Hearing it form an outsider that we did not know made the difference. It made us feel really good.

9. Best advice that you could give someone else that is pursuing a dance career?

Stay original, because originators last longer than imitators. Stay true to yourself and always have fun. If you don’t have fun you’re not going to want to do it anymore.

Be very professional at all times especially when you’re having fun. To me I’m still balancing it.

Stay fresh. It means being able to know how to balance underground and mainstream stuff.

10. Best moment of your performing career?

I would want to say when we helped Miss Toni Shaw win a national award off one of our pictures. We were all together and had so much fun. We got up that morning and rode around and took pictures all day. She won a national award off one of the pictures.

11. How has your PhotoBiz website helped you?

A lot of people like our website and all the games we have on there. PhotoBiz has helped us. We put our bios on it. A lot of questions people ask are answered on our website and we have it tied to our Facebook page.

Getting it all together was almost like a hassle getting everyone to approve it. Once we all got it done and launched it, it was like watching yourself on TV or something – that’s us!

There are pictures, videos, games, and information about each member. Ned is the go to guy when it comes to stuff like that.

12. Anything more you would like people to know about 90s Baybeesz?

We are really silly, we are really clowns. We have been together for a while, and now we are getting older. For people to sit there and watch us grow up is amazing. We still dance and do music. My mom and my dad stay on us, and tell us if we want to be different we can’t stop dancing. The fact that we can both rap and dance gives us an edge of everybody else.

We all have big goals, and the drive that each one of us has helps a bunch. We all have big dreams; we don’t want to just be an average Joe. One day we will be full-time pros and we all have the drive to make it happen.

The Search Engines page can help a lot with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), in that it provides the ability to submit a sitemap link to Google Webmaster Tools in advance of its web spiders finding your website on their own. In addition, the “Visit Counter” (originally located under Settings) has moved to the “Search Engine” page of the control panel, in an effort to keep all SEO information grouped together.

It’s one more way we are “Passionately Supporting” your SEO efforts!